Shakespeare, Law, and Marriage
- Authors:
- B. J. Sokol, Goldsmiths, University of London
- Mary Sokol, University College London
- Date Published: March 2006
- availability: Available
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521024907
Paperback
Other available formats:
Hardback, eBook
Looking for an inspection copy?
This title is not currently available on inspection
-
This interdisciplinary study combines legal, historical and literary approaches to the practice and theory of marriage in Shakespeare's time. It uses the history of English law and the history of the contexts of law to study a wide range of Shakespeare's plays and poems. The authors approach the legal history of marriage as part of cultural history. The household was viewed as the basic unit of Elizabethan society, but many aspects of marriage were controversial, and the law relating to marriage was uncertain and confusing, leading to bitter disagreements over the proper modes for marriage choice and conduct. The authors point out numerous instances within Shakespeare's plays of the conflict over status, gender relations, property, religious belief and individual autonomy versus community control. By achieving a better understanding of these issues, the book illuminates both Shakespeare's work and his age.
Read more- In legal terms this book is much more weighty than the competition: Mary Sokol teaches law and is herself a lawyer
- Very complex topic with interest for Renaissance social historians and historians of law as well as literary historians
- Insights gained into the age in which Shakespeare wrote will add significantly to the understanding of texts and the connections between texts
Reviews & endorsements
'… fresh insights …'. The Times Literary Supplement
See more reviews'[this book] has great value as a work of reference. Its careful organization, structure, and direct specificity make it a most useful volume … it is worth commenting … on the excellent quality of the index.' Modern Law Review
'… their careful amassing and mastery of evidence makes Shakespeare, Law, and Marriage a fine study of context. … has great value as a work of reference. Its careful organization, structure, and direct specificity make it a most useful volume.' MLR
Customer reviews
Not yet reviewed
Be the first to review
Review was not posted due to profanity
×Product details
- Date Published: March 2006
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521024907
- length: 276 pages
- dimensions: 233 x 155 x 13 mm
- weight: 0.379kg
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Making a valid marriage: the consensual model
2. Arranging marriages
3. Wardship and marriages enforced by law
4. Financing a marriage: provision of dowries or marriage portions
5. The solemnisation of marriage
6. Clandestine marriage, elopement, abduction and rape: irregular marriage formation
7. The effects of marriage on legal status
8. Marriage breakdown: separation, divorce, illegitimacy
9. 'Til death us do part
An afterword on method
Notes
Bibliography
Index.
Sorry, this resource is locked
Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email [email protected]
Register Sign in» Proceed
You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.
Continue ×Are you sure you want to delete your account?
This cannot be undone.
Thank you for your feedback which will help us improve our service.
If you requested a response, we will make sure to get back to you shortly.
×